Rory A Cooper

Rory A. Cooper, PhD, PLY is a National Medal Laureate and prominent bioengineer, inventor, author, and advocate specializing in rehabilitation engineering and assistive technologies. He’s a FISA Foundation – Paralyzed Veterans of America Distinguished Professor at the University of Pittsburgh, serving jointly in Bioengineering, Electrical Engineering, and Orthopedic Surgery, and directs the Pitt and VA collaborative Human Engineering Research Laboratories (HERL). As RERC Director, he leads efforts in Physical Access and Transportation for People with Disabilities, focusing on innovative wheelchair design, robotic devices, and inclusive vehicle and airline boarding solutions. He is the author of two books: "Rehabilitation Engineering Applied to Mobility and Manipulation” and “Wheelchair Selection and Configuration”, and co-editor of “An Introduction to Rehabilitation Engineering”, “Warrior Transition Leader: Medical Rehabilitation Handbook” and the award-winning book “Care of the Combat Amputee”. Cooper is an elected member of the National Academy of Engineering and Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, as well as RESNA, IEEE, AIMBE and BMES. In October 2023, he was awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation by the President of the United States, and he was inducted into the 50th class of the National Inventors Hall of Fame. His students have won numerous awards and are leaders throughout the world.

His R&D interests span: Wheelchair engineering; Wearable & robotic assistive technology; Smart accessibility systems. His work is grounded in participatory design with individuals with disabilities, aiming to bridge STEM and health sciences to drive high-impact, interdisciplinary innovation.